Chapter 50 - A Dark Lord’s Guide

The Wandering Devil

Chapter: 50

Disclaimer: I don't own High School DxD or any other universe used in this story.

(A Dark Lord's Guide)

The room I had found myself in was... quaint.

A single bed with an outdated mattress sat on one side, already taking up half the room. A bucket of water sat in the corner, leading to a hole below, which I presumed was meant to be a shower.

That was where the detail of the room ended, besides another empty bucket in the far corner. Nothing else resided in the dark cell, only the four dark grey walls that surrounded it.

The only source of light was an open slit in the wall that bled cold air into the room.

I whistled. "You must have annoyed a lot of people; this is subhuman."

Grindelwald looked no better.

The former Dark Lord took a moment to look up through long white hair, sunken eyes piercing as they instantly began picking me apart, not at all matching the frail shell his body had become.

My comment drew the slight pulling of his lips into a half-smirk.

"I don't believe I've seen your face before," the former Dark Lord mused, voice dry but tinged with amusement. "Am I to presume the young gentleman bringing me my food will be late?"

"Something like that," I said, my lips twitching at his comment.

Reginald and Clint stood behind me, looking at the Dark Lord with a hint of hesitation.

"Ah, here I was looking forward to my soup," Grindelwald commented, standing up. "Since you've made all the effort, I do believe I have to ask what this visit is for? It is so rare that the Ministries allow me to enjoy the company of anyone."

"This isn't just a social call; I'm here to make a deal," I said, moving forward and inspecting the room.

Grindelwald paused. Something flickered behind those eyes, a slight confusion along with a dawning realisation. I caught it for the split second it formed, then his face became devoid of any emotion.

"A deal?" He tilted his head, studying me with renewed interest. "How curious. I had assumed you were finally here to finish the job. It wouldn't be the first time someone's tried, though I must confess it has been a few decades."

"No." I smiled innocently, excited to finally be fulfilling one of my biggest plans for this world. "I have other ideas. Some that may involve your freedom, perhaps?"

The silence that followed was contemplative.

Grindelwald's expression didn't change, but I saw the subtle tension in his shoulders. The careful way he was now examining every inch of my face and the way that small, aged smile turned cold.

"Freedom," he repeated slowly. "That is quite the offer."

"I imagine it is," I commented idly, giving a long look at his accommodations.

This must have been a rude awakening. A Dark Lord who had conquered quite a large mass of land with thousands of followers. Now sat in a cell with only himself to accompany him.

It reminded me I'd need to be careful.

What would have happened if they had more forces inside the Ministry? I was powerful, sure, but combining attacks for a greater effect was a real thing.

"Tell me, who exactly are you?" he asked. "The Ministry doesn't allow visitors to this castle. They barely permit low-ranking Aurors to patrol within earshot of my cell." Grindelwald said it wistfully. "I doubt they sent a young man to offer me freedom; why, I'm surprised they didn't outright kill me."

"Zephyrion Gremory," I announced. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."

He weighed the name, rolling it around in his mind. Evidently trying to see if he knew of such a family. "Gremory." His brow furrowed slightly. "How strange. I don't recognise it. A pureblood family?"

I smirked at his ability to deduce that from the name alone. Only Reginald had been able to find out that I was technically a Devil, and even that was muddied by my race change.

"Something like that."

Reginald's eyes flickered to me, and I decided the following conversation was probably best only heard by Sebas.

I turned to Clint and Reginald. "Wait outside. Keep watch on everything happening and make sure to organise everyone."

Clint looked like he wanted to stay but merely nodded at my words, while Reginald sent me a slightly confused look, as if he still hadn't figured out my intention in all this.

It seemed my comment about releasing Grindelwald back into the wild had completely baffled him. They both stepped back, and I shut the door behind them. Only Sebas remained, standing silent and still by the entrance.

Grindelwald watched this exchange with open interest. The weathered and wasted body of the former Dark Lord had done nothing to dull his mind, it seemed.

"My, my." His lips curved into something that might have been a smile on a healthier face. "Quite the entourage you've brought. And that one," his eyes moved to Sebas, "how peculiar."

I examined him with a hint of respect.

"You can sense that, can you? Here I thought you were pretty out of luck without a wand," I replied, not bothering to hide the fact that Sebas wasn't a wizard.

He was a Dragonoid after all, one from a world previously thought to be fictional...

I still hadn't gotten over that.

"Mm, the wand is not what possesses the magic. But I am uncertain what it is about... who did you say you were again?"

"Sebas Tian, butler to the Supreme One," Sebas replied calmly.

I sighed.

"Oh? Supreme One?" He chuckled. "You didn't strike me as the type."

I pointedly didn't respond.

"So." Grindelwald clasped his hands behind his back, the motion almost casual despite his wasted frame. "The mysterious Zephyrion Gremory. Are you the new Dark Lord, then? Come to pay respects to your predecessor?"

His tone carried the slightly crazed humour a man develops after decades of isolation. Most of all, it signalled that he didn't really care what happened to him.

"Only if you ask the Ministry," I replied calmly.

That earned a dry chuckle. "And the followers you have gathered, it would appear. Then tell me... what is it you're really here for?"

"I'm here to make a deal, as I said." I met his gaze evenly. "And I have no problem letting you leave as payment for fulfilling this contract."

My statement made him silent; then he chuckled. It was a rough sound, unused vocal cords protesting at the sudden exertion. But there was real amusement in it.

"Forgive me." He wiped at his dry eye with a bony finger. "It's been some time since anyone has tried to con me. You'll have to do better than vague promises of freedom. I've had fifty years to accept my situation."

I rolled my eyes at his comment, but wasn't surprised by his words.

"I didn't travel all the way here to give you 'vague promises', you know? This is going to cause me quite a few problems with the ICW and the Ministries, I imagine."

"I can imagine such a thing," he replied with a smirk.

"And you haven't even heard what I want yet," I pointed out.

"Then by all means." He spread his arms in a mockery of invitation. "Enlighten an old man."

"Aren't you even a little bit interested? What other option do you have? Sitting here and wasting away," I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Or you end my life after I've given you what you desired," he suggested, looking incredulous. "It's proper Dark Lord etiquette from what I hear."

"It's a good thing that only the Ministry thinks I'm a Dark Lord then." I grinned.

"Changing the title to 'Supreme Being' isn't very confidence-inspiring," Grindelwald replied, amused.

"Sitting here and wasting away is your other option." I shrugged. "As for what I need, it's pretty simple. I want your knowledge of spells."

Grindelwald blinked.

Then his expression transformed into one of thorough entertainment.

"Oh? You've come here for a tutor?" He chuckled, the sound rattling in his chest. "I do admit teaching was never my forte. And while I'm sure having my endorsement would give you a very legitimate look, my spells aren't for everyone. Most who tried to learn them died. Or worse."

"Not quite. I don't have time for lessons." I stepped closer. "Wizarding magic is a useful set of abilities that I need to acquire. Quickly."

"You act as if it's something that can truly be mastered." He shook his head slowly. "Wizarding magic is ever-expanding. A mystery we wizards have only touched upon. Even I, in all my years, have only gone past the surface."

"Then I'd like to get further with your knowledge," I replied.

"Didn't you just say you didn't wish for me to teach you?" Grindelwald raised an eyebrow. "How exactly do you intend on learning? I do know of a man who could instruct you, but he's not very fond of Dark Lords." He gave a wry smile. "I think it's the way we dress."

I looked over his ragged clothing. "If this is your normal attire, perhaps."

His lips twitched.

I pulled the contract from my bottomless pouch and handed it to him. He took it with thin fingers, examining the parchment with idle interest. He didn't seem to be in a hurry.

"I'm not sure this would be admissible in the Wizengamot," he said with a click of his tongue. "Not that they care much for the law regarding us in any case."

He turned it over, studying the writing along the edges and my blood on the corner of the contract.

"And such a method of knowledge transfer isn't available. Not in any useful manner. Unless you have a Pensieve, observation is the best you could hope for," Grindelwald informed me.

"Not quite." I watched his face carefully. "The contract will do the work for us. But if you haven't caught on, I want to take your spell knowledge with this contract. It's a type of magic that binds deals, within certain limits if not prepared beforehand."

"A magically binding contract?" Grindelwald's eyes narrowed. "I've heard of such things. Unbreakable Vows. Blood pacts." His tone grew dismissive. "But I'm not exactly sure that's how knowledge transfer works. All this would do is force me to do something I cannot do, at the eventual expense of my life."

"Perhaps in any normal contract, but this is a different type of magic," I attempted to explain. "It goes beyond just a pact and will act as a focal point for the agreement. Allowing things that normally are unable to be traded, traded."

Grindelwald stared at me. For the first time, there was something other than amusement in his expression.

"A binding contract that acts as a substitute?" Grindelwald questioned. "I don't believe the Ministry would approve of such a thing even in my long time away. How did you learn of this?"

"Self-study." I shrugged, leaning against the wall.

He read through the document again. Slower this time. "And am I supposed to trust your word on this magical effect?"

"The contract also includes our deal," I replied steadily. "If you die, then wouldn't I follow the same fate if this were a mere binding contract? And why would I go through all of that to kill you? When I could end your life now."

He weighed my words.

His finger traced the final clause. "If fulfilled, you'll let me go."

He looked up.

"How reassuring," he said dryly.

I had to get back to Hestia soon; the problem with Artemis still lingered, and since Hestia had asked me to do it properly, I felt it was probably the priority for now.

That and bringing Reginald with me.

"Do we have an agreement?"

Grindelwald opened his mouth to respond.

The door burst open.

Reginald stood in the doorway, his face pale.

"My Lord." His voice was tight with urgency. "Hundreds of apparitions have just occurred nearby. In a direct path that leads towards the entrance to Nurmengard."

I turned. "The Ministry?"

"It has to be. They're apparating in waves at the outer perimeter." Reginald nodded.

I frowned. That shouldn't have been so quick. We'd only been here for minutes. The nearest Ministry branch was hours away by conventional means, and mass apparition required coordination that took time to organise.

Unless someone had been watching.

Grindelwald's smile returned, wider than before.

"Albus does have this effect," he said quietly. "The man has an uncanny sense for knowing things he shouldn't. I imagine this little visit shocked him quite a bit."

Dumbledore, of course.

I hadn't forgotten about the extremely powerful wizard. If he arrived, my attempt at making a deal here would be interrupted. My forces, while useful, would be destroyed by the Aurors. Unless I got involved.

I turned to Sebas.

"Defend the approach. Use the main entrance as a chokepoint. When they try to funnel through, our forces can pincer them from the flanking corridors," I ordered. "The magical walls should provide cover."

Sebas should be able to handle it while I dealt with this.

Sebas bowed. "Understood, my Lord."

I looked back at Grindelwald.

Grindelwald studied the contract in silence.

Then he set it down.

"I decline."

I raised an eyebrow. "No?"

"You're asking for my memories." His voice had lost some of its earlier amusement. "All of them, it would appear. Every spell, every theory, every technique I've developed over a century of practice."

He met my eyes. "Do you have any idea what that entails?"

"I imagine quite a bit," I joked.

"Quite a bit." He laughed, but there was an edge to it now. "My memories are who I am, and a lot of my life was in the pursuit of magic."

"The knowledge I've accumulated isn't simply a collection of facts to be traded away. It's woven into every aspect of my being. You're asking me to hollow myself out, and that isn't freedom," Grindelwald pointed out.

I nodded at his words.

"We can limit it to the pure learning of the spells alone. You'll also know which spells have been learnt and be able to re-learn them," I offered.

I knew he wouldn't accept.

The thing about a deal was that some people couldn't be forced, and you had to play a game to get what you wanted.

"And you think they can be so easily separated?" Grindelwald asked. "What makes you think that even with my memories, you will be able to learn the spells I've learnt?"

He had a point.

The contract as written was broad. Perhaps too broad. Which was unlike me, though perhaps that was because I had known it would need tweaking.

"Then let's negotiate."

Grindelwald's eyes sharpened with interest. "Oh?"

"Keep your personal memories and whatever else you deem essential to who you are." I pulled the contract back and studied it. "What I need is access to your more advanced spell repertoire."

"That's still an enormous amount of information," he said, a slight spark of pride in his eyes.

"It is." I met his gaze. "That's why, instead of taking them, how about you allow me to live through the specified memories? So that I may learn them on my own. That way, when you're freed, you will have lost nothing."

Grindelwald was silent for a long moment.

"Interesting." He tapped a bony finger against his chin. "A more flexible offer than I expected. Most who seek power are rigid in their demands and believe that they must project power in every aspect; failure is weakness after all, and refusal is a challenge to power in most eyes."

Grindelwald gauged my reaction. "Especially from one letting what would be a future opponent walk free."

"It's a good thing I have more tact in that case. That sounds counterproductive," I mused.

Left unsaid was that I didn't really see him as an opponent. At his peak, he would no doubt give me trouble, but Sebas was with me, and my bloodline had given me a powerful summon.

Wizarding magic had proven versatile; it had allowed me to overpower the divine spear after all, mixed with the magic of Yggdrasil.

He studied me with renewed interest. "Very well. Let's say I agree to this modified arrangement. I sign your mysterious contract and hand over my life's work in exchange for freedom." His lips curved. "What then?"

"Then you walk out of here." I shrugged, mostly as an act to show I didn't put much importance on the matter.

"And you plan just to let me go? You do understand I will become a competitor in the great race of the wizarding world's conquest?" Grindelwald asked once more, a white eyebrow rising.

"I do," I said, keeping my tone relaxed.

Grindelwald tilted his head, studying me closely.

"Are you truly so confident? Or is this pride?" He paused, mulling it over. "No, it can't be pride. I've seen pride in a thousand faces. This is something else." His eyes narrowed. "How strange. I wonder what it is that's got you so confident?"

My rise in power.

The transformation that had elevated me to the upper ends of the high class. The Power of Destruction that coursed through my veins, capable of annihilating anything it touched.

My new bloodline, the R'hal lineage of a World Enemy. The fact that I was technically a prince of Nazarick, with the backing of beings that could level nations.

All of that made me fairly confident, yes. And I was about to gain access to wizarding magic. With my amount of raw power, I could make devastating use of even basic spells.

If this were my original world, I'd be infinitely more careful.

Grindelwald didn't need to know any of that.

"I have my reasons," I replied. "And giving that away to a future 'competitor' doesn't feel like a good idea to me."

The old Dark Lord laughed again, with real amusement this time. "You've earned your secrets." He gestured at the contract. "Write your modification in this case. I'm curious to see how this 'binding' of yours actually works and, most importantly, how you intend to get into my mind."

I pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment and began writing under Grindelwald's watchful gaze. His expression gave nothing away. His posture hadn't shifted since I'd entered; that same casual stillness persisted throughout our conversation.

From this alone, he felt more impressive than Voldemort ever had.

The terms were more specific this time. I would experience his knowledge of spells. His understanding of magical theory. His methodology. In exchange: freedom.

I was slightly hesitant at the thought of living through decades of memories. But devouring a soul was far more intense than that, and I'd done it plenty of times.

I handed it to him.

He read it carefully, line by line.

"Do we have an agreement?" I asked once more.

"We do," he finally decided, excitement blazing in his eyes.

He made no quick move to sign it, merely holding his hand up for a pen. In an equally relaxed measure, I pulled out a knife, shooting him a small grin.

"Blood, I'm afraid."

"Let's hope I have some left," he mused.

He picked up the contract, splitting open his hand without a hint of pain and signing in his own blood.

The moment the signature was complete, I felt it.

The contract activated, red light forming for a moment before a pull took hold of me. Demonic power wafted out, the strange blood pact acting as a focal point.

I quickly sent a glance to the door.

Sebas should be able to handle it for now.

The contract's binding began, and I was pulled into his mind.

"H-here I thought my Occlumency shields were truly formidable." Grindelwald chuckled, the last words I heard as we were swept into a sea of consciousness.

My vision went white.

-{Sebas Tian}-

He stepped out of the cell and into the corridor where Reginald and Clint waited, their faces slightly pale with concern. Their gazes weren't hard to follow.

A sea of foreign humans had formed outside the large fortress.

The sounds of spellfire echoed from multiple directions now. It was different from Yggdrasil's magic, taking form in blasts that erupted into varying tiers. The highest yet was an eruption of flames that could potentially be equal to fourth-tier magic.

The fortress they had taken was under siege from this 'Ministry' his Lord had mentioned.

"Lord Zephyrion is indisposed," Sebas announced calmly. "I will handle the Ministry forces."

Clint choked while Lord Abbott, standing with Reginald, became even paler.

"What are we to do?" Lord Abbott asked Reginald.

"They've been waiting to make an example. With the unknown movements of Lord Zephyrion, they've been getting progressively more nervous."

Reginald nodded. "Even I hadn't expected them to be so ready. It must be someone within our ranks."

Sebas's attention was fully taken by that fact.

"Really?" Clint asked. "Couldn't it be someone else?"

"No. That reaction time... even if the Ministry had such a force waiting for this opportunity, the sheer fact that the foreign Ministries don't back it up means they had information. This plan was made with only a few hours of preparation. It almost feels like a trap that was set too late."

"Why would someone do this?" Clint asked. "And if so, why do it now? They could have stopped it if they merely raided our bases."

"But we had a failsafe for that, didn't we?" Reginald questioned. "They could raid one base, and we would lose nothing; the other bases would remain. The only prize worth gathering a force like this is Lord Zephyrion himself. Someone told them exactly where he would be, and when."

Clint's eyes widened.

"Shit."

"Sebas, what are we to do?" Reginald questioned. "This force is huge. It's multiple times more than the force your Lord encountered in his first appearance. With wizards so skilled they would never be wasted on guard duty."

Sebas straightened his gloves.

This was a chance to prove himself worthy of serving a Supreme Being. To demonstrate that Lady Satomi's faith in sending him to aid Lord Zephyrion had not been misplaced.

Sebas felt something he hadn't experienced in quite some time.

A sliver of excitement, perhaps.

"Stay with Lord Zephyrion," he instructed. "Protect him until the deal is complete."

"Deal?" Clint asked.

Sebas was already moving.

The Ki bestowed upon him by his creators flowed through him as he walked down the corridors of Nurmengard, feeling the signatures of hundreds of wizards ahead.

The difference was clear with the many powerful signatures among them. Very powerful, by this world's standards. A lot stronger than the forces of his Lord, he noted with a small frown.

That wouldn't do. Lord Demiurge would be most displeased.

He emerged into the main hall just as the first wave of Ministry Aurors breached the entrance. The forces of his Lord were already engaged. As ordered, they lined multiple steps that ran up the sides of the entrance, providing a perfect overview of the area below.

The bolts of magic impacted in a variety of effects, mildly surprising Sebas with their sheer range as they slowly destroyed the front hall.

A bolt hit the guard rail of the two spiralling steps that led up the sides of the grand opening, causing frost to burst out in an explosion of mist. In a matter of seconds, the black metal of the guard rail began crumbling, blocks of frozen metal taking out a large area.

It was followed by a dozen red bolts that homed in on the wizard behind. A hastily erected shield of magic shattered easily under the assault.

The large guard rails crumbled by the second, all of the wizards and witches trying to fire back driven down by the barrage of magic.

Sebas watched with interest.

The bolts of magic felt so small, but the effects that followed were much more notable. The entire front entrance was ripped apart, and that was only by a few dozen wizards at the front of the assault.

What a peculiar magic.

They came through in a coordinated rush.

Red robes marked them as elite operatives. Wands raised, shields active, moving with the precision of well-trained soldiers. A far cry from the guards that had been stationed at Nurmengard before.

The allied wizards were outmatched.

Without Lord Zephyrion's overwhelming presence to bolster their confidence, many of them looked ready to break.

This was the scene he had arrived upon.

"Hold your positions," Sebas commanded.

His voice cut through the chaos with absolute authority. The allied wizards paused, some looking back in confusion at his command but then seemingly remembering his place at Lord Zephyrion's side.

"Surrender immediately," the leader of the opposing force commanded, a broad-shouldered man with a scarred face who levelled his wand at Sebas. "You are surrounded and outmatched! Your Lord will fall just as quickly. If you lay your wands down, we may yet find a future for you in society, as you have not committed any major violations."

The leader was confident, deservedly so.

Hundreds of Aurors stood behind him.

In the small amount of time since the dozen or so Aurors at the front had breached, they had shattered the first layer of defence, tearing away any cover within and taking down any defender who so much as dropped their shield.

What impressed Sebas the most was the control.

He had no doubt they could have torn apart the entirety of Nurmengard.

The magical walls were hard to break, as seen by the attempts that left marks on the walls lining the entrance. It was only the unprotected interior that showed the true extent of the damage.

But it was all controlled, without a single lethal curse among the barrage. It was a force that should belong to his Lord.

He frowned, noticing the nervous looks amongst the allied ranks.

But to his respect, no one moved even in the face of an overwhelming force. They glared back at a foe that by all logic outmatched them in magic and mind.

Sebas adjusted his gloves.

"You have the situation reversed," he announced calmly, evaluating the threat and finding it lacking.

The Auror's eyes remained unfazed.

"Is that your final decision?" His voice was eager. "Very good."

"Combat formation!" he shouted.

And spells erupted towards Sebas from every direction.

Sebas's body tensed, his strength coming to life as he moved. The area he had occupied swarmed with red spells that impacted space, the sheer force cracking the ground.

Sebas weaved through the incoming wall of spells that pelted the space behind him, his understanding being that these types of spells needed to impact a surface to unleash the potential within them.

It was a flawed method, despite how much power the spells packed into condensed form.

The wall of spells managed to slow down his path slightly. The assault shifted as they realised he wasn't actually being hit, looks of astonishment crossing their faces.

A tremor passed through the ground, a spell hitting the earth and causing a massive gouge in front of him. Dust kicked up and was promptly swept into a stream, further forming into spikes of earth that shot towards him.

Sebas dodged, the spike going past him and into an allied wizard's shield. That shield cracked, and the spike tore through, impaling the wizard behind it.

There was a brief silence, the spells slowing down just a bit.

Sebas noted that his side had completely stopped for a moment, and he expected them to falter outright. Only for the assembled witches and wizards to begin firing back with more vigour, some of them outright shouting.

Sebas felt their will and made his first move, his eyes deathly cold as he appeared before the nearest Auror.

A palm to the solar plexus. The man's eyes bulged as his internal organs shifted just short of rupturing. He slumped limp before touching the ground.

Sebas frowned.

That had been closer to lethal than intended. His Lord had wanted this done without lethal force. He would need to moderate his strength.

Another Auror tried to apparate away. Sebas caught him mid-transition, his hand closing around the man's throat. The apparition failed, leaving the Auror suspended in Sebas's grip, choking.

Sebas dropped him, unconscious but alive.

More spells came. A coordinated barrage this time, the remaining Aurors working in unison to create overlapping fields of fire.

The Dragonoid butler of Nazarick swiped his hand as a massive boulder shot through the dust, breaking it in half and quickly avoiding the barrage of red spells that followed behind it.

The area outside the fortress's main entrance began to deteriorate rapidly. The ground quickly found itself under siege, powerful spells forming explosions that blasted the cold air with heat, ice and a multitude of nasty effects.

It did not take long for them to coordinate.

A huge chunk of the ground was lifted, touched by magic and transformed. The rock reshaped into multiple rods of strong metal that launched forward from a yellow spell, at a speed far beyond anything the wizards themselves could move at.

Sebas activated Iron Skin.

The metal rods struck him with resounding booms that caused small shockwaves, only managing to push him back from the sheer force of the spellwork.

The Aurors had retreated, some in cracks of apparition while others merely took steps back.

A swirl of one wand summoned a massive cloud of fire, which another pushed forward with a burst of hot wind, forming a tornado of fire that blasted towards him.

Ki covered his fist, and a lightning-quick strike whipped out. The Ki-infused palm met the magical fire, a blast of pressurised air blowing back in a stream and parting the flames.

Multiple red spells hit him, making certain parts of his body feel only the slightest bit numb.

He heard the vague shouts of surprise.

The Aurors' faces went from determination to confusion to outright fear. What followed was less a battle than a systematic dismantling. Heel drops that broke bones, palm strikes that sent bodies flying, all while he held back from using his ability 'Human Killing' lest he begin tearing through their ranks in a different manner.

He admired their determination even as their spellwork drove him back.

A flock of bats that had formed was turned into more steel poles that slammed into him and were quickly destroyed by rapid strikes.

They were followed by a massive boulder, transfigured from the shattered ground, its surface rippling as spells fused it with jagged spikes of enchanted ice that gleamed in the dim light.

The boulder hurtled forward, propelled by a collective surge of levitation magic, amplified by bursts of wind, growing larger as transmuted battlefield debris adhered to it mid-flight, forming a colossal rolling mass that cracked the earth in its wake.

Sebas braced, his feet digging furrows into the dirt as the impact struck his chest with a thunderous crack. The ice spikes shattered against his skin, but the sheer momentum shoved him backwards several paces, his gloves smoking from the friction.

Multiple streams of fire rained down, while the ground rose, attempting to imprison him.

The result was an eruption that blew up the entire courtyard with ease.

For a moment there was silence. The humans from his side hadn't even bothered to continue firing spells, staring in admiration as he fought.

Then, through the steaming field that formed, Sebas exploded out, his body not even the slightest bit damaged. He reached the line of Aurors, picking one up by the throat. A faint glow passed from his palm before he threw the confused Auror away, seemingly unharmed.

He repeated the action a few times, watching as they all began preparing something.

They all apparated back, allowing a bigger circle to form.

Sebas felt the hundreds of signatures, his slitted eyes glowing as his speed made him a blur.

"Who in Merlin's name is this guy?"

"A vampire?" another one shouted.

The Aurors pressed on, one group waving wands in unison to transform debris into writhing serpents of stone, their bodies elongating into whipping tentacles that lashed out with crushing force, each tip hardened into diamond-hard points that scraped sparks across his reinforced form.

He dodged a massive transformed tree that exploded into the ground, causing the serpents to lash out in whips.

Another Auror channelled a spell to merge the air itself into swirling vortices, transmuting moisture into chains of liquid metal that coiled around the stone serpents, binding them into a unified barrier that slammed down in a wave of animated rock and steel.

The combined assault forced Sebas to pivot, his body twisting to avoid the full brunt as the tentacles grazed his arms, the metal chains clanging against his shoulders with enough power to stagger his advance, the ground beneath him buckling into craters from the residual energy.

From the flanks, more wizards joined, transforming fallen chunks of stone they ripped out of the ground into flocks of razor-sharp birds that dove in synchronised patterns.

Their feathers turned to blades by a flick of wands, peppering his path with slicing dives. At the same time, a central caster summoned a gout of water from the air, transmuting it into a flood of molten glass that cascaded over the avian assault, fusing them into a searing, glassy swarm that exploded on contact.

The heat warped the air around Sebas, the shards embedding themselves shallowly before his iron skin repelled them. Still, the combined push from the enchanted constructs and the explosive force sent him skidding back farther, his heels carving deep grooves as he recalibrated his stance amid the chaos.

Ki exploded from him and pushed everything back in a wave of force. He quickly dashed forward, smashing through a conjured energy shield and allowing the Ki to ring out.

The allied wizards stared in stunned silence.

And he began moving in bursts of speed, taking out Aurors before they could react and watching as spells followed after him in explosions of magical power, a trail of destruction and heat left in his wake.

Dozens of the Aurors had fallen in this brief encounter, while dozens more aimed at the now spread-out battlefield.

He knew it was the close proximity to other wizards that was stopping the full potential of their attacks from forming. They had expected to fight a ranged assault and as such hadn't switched fast enough.

Until now, it would appear.

Multiple shields rose, energy trickling out from wands to form a solid shield of pale blue energy that thickened with each passing second. The shielding charm, as he had come to learn, formed a large barrier.

Then multiple wands exploded with colour and magical power, spells lancing out in overlapping waves. All of this was timed to arrive in intervals that would give him no chance to avoid. Dodging one would only mean stepping into another.

An Auror on the left transmuted the floor tiles into iron caltrops that scattered across his path.

Sebas adjusted his footing without slowing. Another wave of the wand had the ground cratering around him, forming into massive sharp spears that were then hit by five separate yellow spells, causing them to vanish in a blur of speed.

Sebas was surprised, forced to dodge that and a massive cluster of vines that exploded from the ground near him, their thick tendrils holding wicked thorns.

Sebas tore through them with a sweep of his arm.

A spear lanced through where his head had been a moment ago, slamming into the ground and ripping through it. Multiple spears raced towards him soon after.

Along with them came four bright orange spells that curved behind him, erupting into massive balls of fire in an attempt to pincer him.

He avoided the spears, watching as multiple Aurors slashed and formed a different type of spell, one that took the appearance of a circular blade of magic that cut through the ground cleanly as it approached.

Sebas slipped past the slashes of energy, vanishing in a blur of speed as his eyes flashed with deadly intent.

He had been using this, in part, to gauge them, but the situation was proving more difficult with this new collaborative approach.

As soon as he even looked like he was approaching the large shield of energy, magic stirred, and multiple wands moved in different patterns from the frantic wizards.

Huge pillars shot up, covered by hastily erected defences that he easily tore through, followed by streams of fire that he passed through without delay.

That was all a cover for a massive wave of burning water that came in a torrent.

From behind, dozens of varying spells attempted to put him in a pincer.

Finally, he activated the humans he had taken over with Puppeteer's Palm.

Confused shouts came as multiple Aurors turned, shooting high-powered red bolts that took out the nearest Aurors to them.

While that happened, he crouched and shot up, going past the massive eruption of power behind him and hurtling towards the large shield of energy in a streak of displaced air.

His fist came up, glowing with Ki, and impacted the barrier in a boom. It easily caused cracks across its surface, shattering the barrier in a large shockwave of power.

The thirty Aurors holding it up were blown back into the second wave.

Unfortunately, in the sky he could also see rows of Aurors dragging the injured to the back for healing. Then all of them pointed their wands, and for a moment the world turned into colours.

Sebas dove down, followed by a sea of ice, fire, earth and even lightning, along with a varying amount of other coloured spells that merely fizzled out with no contact.

He landed with a boom, the nearest Aurors blown back, and avoided the incoming spells, lashing out with multiple hits that caught several of the wizards around him.

Another group transmuted fallen debris into a swarm of metal wasps that dove at his eyes. A burst of Ki exploded outward in a shockwave that scattered the wasps, shattered the caltrops, and sent the nearest Aurors stumbling.

Before they could recover, he was moving.

He appeared beside the witch who'd conjured the caltrops. His palm pressed against her forehead for a fraction of a second.

Puppeteer's Palm.

Her eyes went blank. Her body relaxed.

"Stupefy," she said calmly, and fired point-blank into her partner's chest.

Sebas was already gone. Another touch. Another puppet. A grizzled veteran Auror turned and hit two of his squadmates with a sweeping curse that sent them flying.

"He's using the Imperius!" someone screamed. "Counter-curse! Now!"

Sebas touched another. And another. Each contact brief, almost casual, but absolutely precise. Within seconds, eight Aurors were under his control, firing into their own ranks with mechanical efficiency.

The formation collapsed into chaos.

Allies ducked spells from allies. Shields went up against the wrong threats. An Auror tried to stun his controlled partner and took a hex to the back from someone he'd trusted.

Sebas moved through the confusion, dismantling them.

A punch shattered a wand arm. A kick caved in a ribcage. He grabbed one wizard by the throat and used him as a shield against three incoming curses before tossing him aside.

Another dozen fell.

The survivors broke. They scrambled backwards, trying to create distance, trying to regroup. But Sebas's puppets pursued them, cutting off escape routes, herding them into chokepoints.

The air split.

Sebas felt it before he saw it, his Ki sensing the appearance of a powerful human with a surprising amount of magical power. It was accompanied by a sharp crack before light swallowed his vision.

He instantly became serious.

It erupted from a single point near the entrance, pure light expanding outward in a blinding wave that consumed everything in its path.

Sebas raised his arms.

The light hit him.

It burned through his iron skin, searing the flesh beneath. The force of it lifted him off his feet and hurled him backwards through the entrance of Nurmengard, his body crashing through the doorway and skidding across the stone floor inside.

The allied wizards scrambled out of his path.

Sebas lay still for a moment.

Then he rose.

He examined his arms. The burns were real. Reddened flesh, blistering in places, pain that he hadn't felt since sparring with Cocytus.

If he had fully transformed, the damage would have been a lot less.

It was the first large threat besides the cluster of opponents. Magic was always tricky to deal with in Sebas's humble opinion. It was the main tool of the Supreme Beings after all. So it was bound to be worth noting.

He channelled Ki.

The wounds began closing. Skin knitting back together, blisters fading, redness retreating. Within seconds, the damage had faded to nothing, leaving only his black sleeves ruined.

Sebas frowned lightly, his eyes keenly watching the figure now standing at the entrance.

There, an aged wizard stood, the frail human body unable to contain the storm of magical power that Sebas sensed.

-{Reginald Greengrass}-

Dumbledore had arrived.

That didn't bode well.

The Aurors didn't bother concealing the sheer morale boost that the legendary wizard's appearance caused. The headmaster of Hogwarts, the Supreme Mugwump and most of all the defeater of a Dark Lord.

Reginald weighed the situation.

The strange butler had proven himself powerful to a lethal degree. In fact, someone of his stature serving as a butler was an incredible showing of status.

He had taken out dozens of Britain's best with no signs of stopping, and only the combined efforts of the Aurors had so much as slowed him.

Still, the Aurors had worked with terrifying coordination to push him back.

He suspected that Sebas would eventually have been forced to back away at the very least, with more Aurors beginning to use personal and more lethal spells by the moment.

His physical prowess might be immense, and his strange magic fit that combat style well, but magical power was lethal in and of itself.

His arm hairs rose as a blinding amount of light erupted in Dumbledore's signature element.

Reginald had always found it over the top and a poor attempt to solidify his image as the Lord of Light, a title the man had never claimed, yet never denied.

He grimaced.

In this moment, that dazzling display of light, burning away the ice of Nurmengard in its entirety, felt a lot more dangerous and much more becoming of the title.

The butler was blown back from the attack in a blur Reginald couldn't follow. Reginald looked back at the closed room behind him, then back at the scene. He fully expected to find the butler dead, a burnt corpse left by a brutal display of magic.

To his surprise, the butler appeared from the wreckage of smoke and the hole he had made in the firm metal wall, a spluttering of runes and magic crackling from its edges.

Reginald looked back to the wizard, who was appraising the butler without an ounce of shock.

He was tall, silver beard falling past his chest, half-moon spectacles perched on his nose, robes shimmering with contained power. He wore a gentle but firm expression that belied the powerful spell that had just been unleashed.

And in his hand, a wand that Reginald recognised from Lord Zephyrion's descriptions.

Held loosely and without concern.

The Elder Wand.

-{Sebas Tian}-

The allied wizards behind Sebas trembled.

Sebas faced him squarely, adjusting his ruffled clothing and attempting to ignore the damage to his attire.

The human wizard in front of him seemed content to allow him to approach.

"I see," Sebas finally said, his hands behind his back. "You must be the gentleman that Lord Zephyrion informed me of. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Dumbledore smiled merrily, as if enjoying the approach to this situation rather than outright attacking him.

A planned move from Sebas.

Time was on his side.

"You have me at a disadvantage." Dumbledore's tone was mild, almost conversational. "I don't believe we've been introduced."

"Sebas Tian." Sebas nodded slightly. "Butler to the Supreme Beings and current defender of the assembled faction that has taken this fortress as a brief hold."

"Supreme Beings." Something flickered behind those half-moon spectacles. "A rather grandiose title. And your employer would be the young man currently visiting our most infamous prisoner?"

"Indeed. Lord Zephyrion is conducting business. I am ensuring he is not disturbed," Sebas replied respectfully.

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "In your taking of this fortress, am I to assume the fine ladies and gentlemen protecting this settlement have had an end to their lives?"

"No," Sebas replied. "They have been incapacitated."

A few of the closest Aurors looked shocked at that.

"I see," the aged wizard replied, something becoming more accepting in those eyes. "And the fallen Ministry operatives?"

"They attempted to disturb him," Sebas responded with a frown. "As such, they were incapacitated as well."

A long pause.

"I think," Dumbledore said quietly, "that a talk is in order. You don't strike me as the type of gentleman to proceed with unnecessary violence, and your actions have warranted such consideration."

Sebas weighed this. "A talk could be held."

"Wonderful." Dumbledore beamed. "If you could summon your Lord and all lower your wands, it would be most appreciated."

"Lord Zephyrion won't be able to attend such a meeting as of this moment. And I would have to ask that these Aurors similarly stand down," Sebas replied calmly.

Dumbledore frowned softly.

"Then we find ourselves at an impasse." Dumbledore raised the Elder Wand. "I cannot allow anyone to converse with Gellert Grindelwald. Whatever your master's intentions, the consequences would be catastrophic."

"I understand." Sebas settled into a combat stance. "But my orders stand, and the situation remains unchanged without equal cooperation."

The Aurors behind Dumbledore spread out, wands raised, forming a semicircle around Sebas.

"Then it is truly a shame," Dumbledore said, eyes hardening. "But I cannot allow you to continue with these actions. Your Lord must be contained for the good of all. The chaos that has come with the actions of a young man who has acquired too much power is something that cannot be afforded."

Sebas nodded. "A shame, but one I will not dwell upon."

Sebas moved forward. Dumbledore's wand swept in a complex pattern, and the stone floor beneath Sebas's feet transformed into liquid, a churning pool of molten rock that should have swallowed him whole.

The allied wizards around him widened their eyes at the brutal action.

Sebas leapt.

He cleared the transmutation zone easily, or at least that was what he had thought. The allied wizards let out shouts as the ground shook beneath them, stone turning into a platform that rose with a crash, racing up to meet his ascent.

Sebas released a large Ki-infused punch, shattering the massive platform with some difficulty.

The shattered stone transmuted into metal shards mid-air, hovering and then drawing towards Sebas's body. A metal prison quickly formed around him in a dome, then rods grew inward, attempting to entrap him.

Ki exploded from him in a shockwave, and multiple punches lashed out, shattering the metal prison. Sebas then clapped his hands, the burst of force pushing him down towards Dumbledore.

The old wizard's eyes remained calm, but his reactions were sharp. Another wand movement, and a massive inferno erupted between them, swirling into a rough wall of flame.

The raging wall of flames rose, consuming the land before it and advancing in columns of roaring destruction towards Nurmengard.

Sebas was forced to release another burst of force to change his trajectory.

His sharp eyes glanced towards the allied wizards that watched the encroaching flame with fear. He realised the large mass of fire stopped short of them, curving away in its raging path and leaving them unharmed.

Sebas felt relieved and hesitated. He didn't want to kill such a man, but this was a real threat.

Sebas moved quickly around the large wall of fire, using the cover and pushing forward to the aged human. His fist connected with a shimmering silver shield that Dumbledore had conjured at the last instant. The shield held, barely, but the impact drove the old wizard backwards several metres.

"Remarkable," Dumbledore breathed. "Such a physical enhancement beyond anything I've encountered. Are you perhaps a practitioner of Druid magic?"

Sebas was forced back as the wall of fire curved, expanding and directing towards him in a roaring mass. He retreated from the immediate area.

And it was in that moment that the Aurors attacked.

Coordinated spellfire came from multiple angles, and Sebas was forced to disengage, weaving between curses and hexes as the backup operatives joined the fight.

They were skilled, he noted.

Working in perfect harmony with Dumbledore, creating openings for the old wizard to exploit.

Dumbledore didn't waste them.

A gesture had the storm of fire moving above Dumbledore, while the ground below rumbled and rocks tore from the floor, coming to hover in the air and transforming into balls of metal.

The balls of metal further moulded into large suits of armour. They lurched forward, animated by magic, running with speed far below his own until the aged wizard swung his wand. The suits of armour accelerated multifold.

At the same time, water erupted from below him, forming into a serpentine shape that lunged for him.

He avoided the large maw of the serpent, his fist lashing out and destroying a suit of armour that reached him with a jump, then another with a backhanded blow. He kicked through a third.

He rapidly destroyed the ten more that attempted to impale him.

The water serpent attempted to curve around and catch him off guard, its maw opening once more to show dozens of metal teeth laced with veins of ice.

He avoided it, letting the water serpent pass only for it to freeze solid and glow with runes inscribed on its surface. A massive explosion of frost followed, freezing everything around it.

Sebas's iron skin technique resisted the worst of it, the frost unable to encroach deeper than the surface of his skin. A wave of Ki swept away the remaining particles.

But Dumbledore wasn't done.

The very air around Sebas solidified, trying to trap him in place. A complex binding charm, cast in an effect that covered the whole area in a glow rather than a single bolt.

Sebas felt something begin slowing him down slightly.

At the same time, Dumbledore unleashed the torrent of flame from above.

The Aurors took this moment to try and land some hits as well.

Sebas activated his fear aura.

The Aurors closest to him crumpled immediately, overwhelmed by terror so intense their bodies shut down. Others stumbled backwards, their coordination broken, their spells going wild.

Sebas could now focus on the large inferno descending in a streak towards him.

Sebas let Ki swell in his hands and beyond his gloves. Then he punched forward, the gloves' elemental enchantments protecting his hands as he struck the flames head-on.

His fist sank into the living fire for just a moment, the fire attempting to devour him, until he formed a stream of Ki-enhanced wind that blew through the attack.

The aged wizard looked surprised at the feat as a stream of air came towards him.

For the continued sake of his well-being, he wisely chose caution over underestimation, raising a shield against the rushing air. His expression showed outright shock as the shield cracked.

Sebas closed the distance. His palm strike aimed for Dumbledore's chest, the hastily erected shield destroyed with ease.

A strong and unknown metal blossomed into a chestplate at the last instant, absorbing most of a blow that would have ended the fight.

The old wizard flew backwards, crashing through two stone pillars before skidding to a halt. He was on his feet almost immediately, a testament to defensive enchantments woven into his robes, but blood trickled from his lip.

"Extraordinary," Dumbledore said, actual respect evident in his tone. "It is such a shame that a man of your talents wastes an unknown branch of magic in service of a sinister master."

Sebas pressed forward.

And the aged wizard quickly responded.

He transfigured the debris around them into attacking creatures that Sebas smashed through with an elegant flurry of strikes. In the next moment, a wall of ice formed, which Sebas broke with a stream of pressurised air from a palm strike.

He avoided the chunks of ice that exploded once more with frost, and through the ice mist, chains of silver quickly surged out in the dozens, all of them burning with heat.

Sebas nimbly dodged, continuing in time for a lasso of fire to strike out in a wide crescent. The mist evaporated from the sheer heat as it struck at Sebas, who managed to duck.

None of it was enough.

Dumbledore was powerful, the strongest magic user Sebas had encountered in this wizarding world. The wand matched him... he could sense the power radiating from it.

But Dumbledore was still bound by the limitations of his craft and his magical reserves.

Sebas moved towards the struggling wizard. And he realised he had been drawn into a trap a moment before it sprang. A cunning ploy that he understood too late.

If he had been in his Dragonoid form, it would have been a different matter altogether. But since his Lord didn't want to reveal such a thing, he refrained from transforming.

The ground beneath Sebas's feet erupted.

Dozens of runes, carved into the very foundation of the courtyard, now blazed with accumulated power.

They'd been forming throughout the entire fight, Sebas realised. Every stumble backwards, every desperate retreat had been positioning, drawing him into the centre of a trap that had been building since the first exchange.

Chains of silver exploded from the runes, manifested from raw magical energy and burning with a radiance that seared even through his iron skin.

They wrapped around his arms, legs, and torso, binding him in place with a force that genuinely challenged his strength.

He would shatter them in four seconds, but that wouldn't be quick enough.

"Forgive the deception," Dumbledore said, straightening. "But I needed time to prepare something appropriate for an opponent of your calibre."

His wand rose.

"Fulminis Sanctum."

Lightning struck Sebas. White fire poured through the chains, using them as conduits to deliver the full force of the spell directly into his body. His muscles locked. His vision went briefly white.

The smell of burning reached his nostrils and he realised it was his own.

The spell held for three seconds.

When it finally ended, Sebas hung in the chains, smoke rising from his scorched form. His suit was ruined. His skin was dark in some places, cracked and bleeding in others.

Dumbledore lowered his wand, breathing hard.

That spell had cost him a significant portion of his magic.

Sebas used his Ki senses. The old wizard had sixty percent of his magic left. Without the wand, he suspected that it would be under forty.

"I take no pleasure in this," the old wizard said quietly. "But I cannot allow you to continue now, if you would surrender for appropriate healing and trial. I can assure you that your restraint in not killing any Aurors will be accounted for."

He raised his wand again.

Sebas moved, this time with everything he had as he became a streak.

The chains shattered as Ki flooded through his body in quantities he rarely unleashed, reinforcing muscles, hardening skin, accelerating healing. The burns began closing even as he tore free from the bindings, blackened flesh sloughing away to reveal raw but regenerating tissue beneath.

Dumbledore's eyes widened in alarm.

"Very well."

And Sebas exploded forward with a shockwave of power.

-{Zephyrion Gremory}-

The memories came in waves.

In the swirling pools of unconsciousness I had been dragged into, I saw through Grindelwald's eyes as the contract did its work, allowing me to experience the learning of each of these spells.

Standing in a dusty library in Durmstrang, poring over texts by candlelight. The first spark of understanding as he grasped the theory behind wandless magic.

The thrill of power as he cast his first dark curse.

The memories accelerated.

Older now, he was travelling through Eastern Europe, seeking knowledge with a consuming desire, diving in, uncaring, into things others feared to touch.

Then I felt the moment he first held the Elder Wand and learnt to cast a spell with it. After that, I became privy to his learning of what he deemed 'advanced', a massive repertoire of over thirty spells.

Protego Diabolica.

The ring of fire that distinguished friend from foe, consuming enemies while leaving allies untouched. I felt the incantation in my mind, the precise wand movements, the intent required to shape the flames.

It wasn't the same as devouring the knowledge, but I was living through it.

The Obscurus Binding.

A technique Grindelwald had developed to harness the raw destructive power of an Obscurial without being consumed by it. A bit useless unless I could find one of those.

Ventus Mortis.

The Death Wind.

A curse that stripped the air from a target's lungs while simultaneously preventing apparition. Grindelwald had used it to assassinate three members of the International Confederation before they even knew he was in the room.

That felt a lot more deadly.

Then there came Transfiguration, not at Dumbledore's level, admitted by Grindelwald himself, but to a degree just below master level. At the same time, Dumbledore sat at the top as a Grandmaster.

But the ability to transfigure items... that was deemed a God-level ability back in my own world. Well, granted, gods could actually create as well. But the potential of this magic felt endless.

It was good preparation, since I was confident my next world would be my home world.

The memories kept coming.

It was overwhelming and exactly what I needed.

The flood began to slow. The final memories trickled in, closing in on his time before capture and the little time he had to delve even deeper into the magical arts.

And then it was over.

I gasped.

My eyes snapped open.

I was on my knees, I realised.

At some point during the transfer, I'd collapsed. The stone floor was cold against my palms.

Grindelwald was leaning against his bed, still watching me with an unreadable expression.

"Well?" he asked.

I took a breath.

"It worked," I said.

"So it did." Grindelwald's lips curved slightly. "How does it feel? Having such knowledge crammed into your skull?"

"Enlightening."

"I imagine so." He rose as well, stretching limbs that had been still for far too long. "Well then. A deal is a deal. I believe I'm free to go?"

"You are." I gestured towards the door. "Be warned, there are some Aurors outside so you may want to wait. After all, I never agreed to help you escape. Just to let you go."

Grindelwald laughed, genuinely amused.

"Fair enough. I've been breaking out of places since before your grandparents were born." He moved towards the door, then paused. "A word of advice, young man. Don't underestimate the losing side. Dumbledore will surprise you."

"I'll keep that in mind." I nodded.

"No, you won't." He smiled. "But you'll remember I warned you."

And then he walked into the corridor with an appreciative hum.

I mean, I was cautious of everyone despite how I acted. I'd been prepared if Grindelwald was to launch a fireball or even spring some elaborate trap against me.

I shrugged, turned and walked out of the cell.

The corridor was chaotic by the time I took my first step out.

Reginald stood with his wand half-raised, staring down the corridor where a frail figure in prison rags was calmly strolling away. Ana was beside him, her face pale but determined. Lord Abbott had positioned himself at the far end of the hallway, pressed against the wall as Grindelwald passed him with a polite nod.

Clint was the first to recover.

"My Lord!" He rushed forward. "That was... you just let Gellert Grindelwald walk out."

"Part of the deal," I said.

Reginald's relief at my appearance was more controlled, but I could see it in the slight relaxation of his shoulders. To his credit, he swallowed whatever questions he had about the Dark Lord currently wandering the fortress and wasted no time informing me of the situation.

"The Ministry arrived in force, my Lord. Lord Sebas has been holding them off, but..."

Lord Sebas?

"But?" I questioned.

"Dumbledore is here."

I processed that.

"Let's go see what we're dealing with, I suppose."

We moved through the fortress quickly. The sounds of battle grew louder as we approached the main entrance. Spellfire and explosions, the crack of stone breaking.

I stepped outside.

And stopped.

The courtyard was gone. Where there had once been a snow-covered expanse of ancient stone, there was now a wasteland of craters and debris.

The front portion of Nurmengard itself had been torn away, exposing corridors and chambers to the open air. Scorch marks and ice patches and transmuted stone covered everything in a patchwork of magical destruction.

In the middle of it all, Sebas was there. Aurors flew through the air with each strike. Spells bent around him or splashed against his iron skin, which I recognised from seeing it in the dungeon.

I was glad to note that he was holding back. I had wanted to use this to send a message, though my eyes narrowed at the damage he had sustained.

And it didn't escape my notice that a few of my own were dead.

An older man was in the centre of the chaos, his wand weaving patterns of light and fire. It could only be Dumbledore.

He was holding his own against Sebas through sheer magical versatility, transmuting the ground beneath the butler's feet, conjuring barriers of silver light, and redirecting attacks with flicks of his wrist.

And in his hand, unmistakable even at this distance, was the Elder Wand.

My forces noticed my arrival.

A cheer went up.

The allied wizards who had been cowering behind cover straightened. Those who had been falling back found their courage.

I blinked at the sight.

It almost felt like some war had happened, all the while I had been experiencing the life of a Dark Lord who, according to Reginald, had almost conquered all of Europe.

"Lord Gremory!"

"He's here!"

I watched Dumbledore for a moment longer.

Two birds with one stone. Sebas could thin out the Ministry forces while I took the measure of Dumbledore myself.

"Sebas!" I called out. "Handle the Ministry forces."

Sebas disengaged from Dumbledore with a burst of speed, pivoting towards the main body of Aurors. Without the butler to focus on, Dumbledore's attention shifted to me.

Our eyes met.

"Ah," he said softly. "It is good to see you again, though I had hoped for a change of heart."

"And here I hoped we wouldn't have another encounter for a while at least," I replied with a wave. "So, how'd you get here so fast? Can't imagine a man of your age being so active at this late of an hour."

His lips twitched. "For you, I made an exception."

"Professor... how indecent."

The headmaster threw me an unimpressed look.

"As far as Dark Lords go, I do believe you are certainly unique. Is there no way for you to stop this foolishness?" Dumbledore offered.

"I mean, you killed a few of my followers by the looks of it. How many have I killed?" I hummed, looking over the injured Aurors. "Not a lot, I'd guess."

He frowned deeply, regret shining in his eyes. "An unfortunate accident in the face of a dangerous foe."

"Sure." I shrugged. "But you're pretty dangerous yourself, a powerful wizard, with a powerful wand and powerful spells. Sebas isn't a pushover. Yet he managed."

"A great deed done for an unjust purpose." Dumbledore nodded. "But I concede that more caution should have been taken."

"Then how about we go our separate ways?" I offered, a rare display of restraint on my part.

"I wish I could say I agree to these terms, but your decision to come here is alarming and mysterious." His wand came up, the Elder Wand glowing slightly at its tip. "Though I suspect I'll learn quite a bit in the next few minutes."

Dumbledore was already moving. His wand traced an arc, and the debris around me transformed. Stone became serpents. Metal became chains. The very air solidified into a cage that tried to close around me.

I shattered it all, allowing destruction to arc out of my body.

I shot forward.

Dumbledore apparated in response, vanishing and reappearing ten metres to my left.

His counter came instantly. A wave that picked up the surrounding dust and turned it into crackling motes of burning energy.

It swept out in a swarm, thousands of motes burning in the air.

My hand flicked up, causing water to form with my imagination and a mix of wizarding magic. The large stream of water met the motes of fire head-on, and I was mildly surprised to see them burn through without pause.

A few Aurors shot at me, the few that weren't in Sebas's immediate range, and I conjured a shielding charm, blocking the spells and waving my hand to send a burst of air back.

The Aurors were blown back, and that decidedly stopped any further attempts.

The burning motes closed in, breaking into streams as the aged wizard began preparing something else.

Wind gathered between my hands, further boosted by a wandless 'Ventus', and I ripped them outward, a massive explosion of air blowing the burning motes into a raging firestorm.

The raging storm of fire was promptly discarded by its caster, its uncontrolled remnants thrown aside in time for a giant bolt of lightning to crackle out from the tip of the Elder Wand.

I moved, watching it hit the side of Nurmengard and shatter through its wall.

His wand flicked, and three more bolts rained down from above, leaving trails of ozone and magic as they attempted to strike me.

I dodged one, forming a barrier that shielded me from the other and cracked on the third. And by the time the third struck, the old wizard was moving with a speed that didn't match his age.

An entire section of Nurmengard ripped out from the ground, transforming into dozens of liquid metal swords that shot towards my back while a whip of fire formed along the Elder Wand.

Someone certainly wasn't playing around.

The aged wizard looked a lot colder than he had before, a hard glint in his eyes as he proceeded with a soft frown.

The swords raced through the air with whistles, attempting to reach my back in sync with the large whip of flame.

"Protego Diabolica," I intoned.

Black fire erupted around me in a ring, then expanded outward. Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock. He recognised the spell.

"Gellert," he breathed.

"He sends his regards."

My voice was barely heard over the raging inferno that blossomed around me. Instantly I could feel it was different to what my fire had been. This was what the wizarding world dubbed magical fire.

Magical elements, elements that ate at magical power itself. To a degree anyway.

Shock, grief, and something older crossed Dumbledore's face in that brief moment.

The liquid swords behind me melted fully in the air under the assault of black fire that raged around me.

My teeth gritted, the flames attempting to escape my control.

I might have gone a bit far.

Dumbledore apparated away from the dome of fire that swirled chaotically. He appeared above the mass of flames, a small platform beneath him allowing him to hover.

I exploded towards him, a swirling vortex of fire following in my wake, the flames passing over my skin with a tingle.

His body erupted in light, and my skin began to burn even from a distance. My feet kicked out, and a wave of air instantly pushed me back.

Simultaneously, I let streaks of destruction arc towards him, my bloodline roaring to life as I stared at him coldly.

I paused, taking stock.

Sebas appeared at my side, barely winded despite the carnage he'd caused. My forces were battered but intact, gathered near the entrance of Nurmengard.

I could win this. Push through the Aurors, take Dumbledore down, and maybe claim the Elder Wand.

But at what cost?

And when were the Ministry's reinforcements going to arrive? Fighting through them would only cost more time. Beyond that, I wanted to experiment with the new spells I had obtained.

I made a decision.

"Fall back," I commanded.

My forces scrambled to obey.

Clint and Reginald and Ana and Lord Abbott and the hundreds of others who had followed me into this madness. They gathered around me, some supporting wounded comrades, all of them looking to me for guidance.

Dumbledore watched from across the battlefield. He didn't pursue, only watching me carefully with a calculating look.

The Aurors, however, gave chase at what they took for a rout.

The raging black fire swirling around me had begun fraying from my control. I barely managed to direct it towards the ground between us rather than the Aurors themselves, and the roiling flames roared out.

A large wall of fire formed, one that Dumbledore instantly began warding off, his eyes never leaving me as I vanished away with my injured forces.

-{Artemis}-

The steam rose in lazy curls from the water's surface.

Artemis sat with her arms crossed, glaring at nothing in particular while Hestia lounged beside her with her eyes closed and a content smile on her face.

The bathhouse was quiet at this hour, which was the only reason she'd agreed to come at all.

She sighed.

"Hestia, I can't stress how urgent this matter is." Her eyes flickered to the door, half expecting Zephyrion to stride through it.

He wouldn't.

She knew that. But the hope remained anyway.

Hestia didn't even open her eyes.

"He'll be back soon, Arty. Don't worry about it," Hestia said, as if it were a simple fact.

Artemis admired the amount of trust, but could not find it in herself to replicate it.

"You keep saying that." Artemis shifted in the water, feeling the heat seep into muscles that had been tense for days. "My Familia is in danger. Every moment we delay, the situation could be growing more dire."

"Mmhm."

"Are you even listening to me?" Artemis scowled.

Hestia cracked one eye open. "Of course I am. You've told me all about the situation, so I know how dangerous it is."

Artemis frowned. She hadn't told Hestia anything.

"You seem remarkably unconcerned for someone whose captain is off doing who knows what," Artemis commented.

"He always comes back." Hestia stretched, her arms reaching above her head before settling back into the water. "Besides, worrying won't make him return any faster. Might as well relax while we can. He told me he would be quick, especially since I asked, even without knowing what problem you're bringing us into."

Artemis opened her mouth to argue, but the words died in her throat. She had a point, and she did want to tell her. But could she afford to tell her just what was happening?

"Where exactly is your Familia anyway?" Hestia asked, her tone genuinely interested now. "I have to say, Arty, telling us your Familia was defeated and then refusing to elaborate..."

Artemis had to bury the pain that went through her. She looked away. "It's... just complicated."

"Complicated how?"

"Just complicated."

Hestia sighed. "You know, many other Gods and Goddesses would outright reject you. It almost feels like you're leading us into a trap."

"N-no, I'm not!" Artemis declared.

Hestia waved her hand. "Oh, I know. Besides acting weird, I know you too well. You're too sweet under all that prideful facade."

Artemis blushed.

Hestia sighed dramatically. "Fine, keep your secrets. But Zephyrion's going to ask the same questions, you know."

Artemis knew. That was part of what made this so frustrating.

The door to the bathhouse slid open.

"My, my. Look who's here."

The voice was warm and teasing. Artemis turned to see a beautiful woman stepping into the bath, her long honey-gold hair cascading over her shoulders. Her orange eyes sparkled with amusement as she spotted Hestia.

It was Demeter.

"Hestia," the goddess of harvest said, settling into the water with a pleased sigh. "You've been coming here quite often lately. Almost every other day this week, if I'm not mistaken."

Artemis blinked.

Hestia's cheeks flushed slightly. "I just... enjoy the baths. Is that a crime?"

"Not at all." Demeter's smile widened. "Though I do wonder what's put such a spring in your step recently. You've been positively glowing."

Then her gaze drifted to Artemis, and her eyebrows rose.

"Artemis?" Surprise coloured her voice. "Now this is unexpected. I don't think I've ever seen you in the public baths before."

"I was dragged here," Artemis muttered.

"By Hestia?" Demeter looked between them, clearly intrigued. "Last I checked, Artemis, you avoided most social gatherings like the plague."

"Yeah, well, I don't see how it's any of your business," Artemis said flatly.

"Arty's been staying with my Familia for a bit," Hestia corrected cheerfully.

Demeter's interest sharpened visibly. "Is that so? Whatever for?"

"She needs help with something," Hestia said. "We're just waiting for my captain to get back."

"Your captain." Demeter leaned forward, water rippling around her. "The mysterious one everyone's been talking about? The Scarlet disaster that tore Apollo's Familia apart?"

Hestia puffed up with pride. "That's him."

"And Artemis is waiting for him specifically?" Demeter's gaze swung to the huntress with renewed interest. "My, my. The virgin goddess, waiting for a man. That's quite the development."

Artemis felt heat rise to her face, nothing to do with the bath. "It's not like that. I need his strength for a quest."

"If you say so." Demeter didn't sound convinced at all.

"And he pulled out her spear," Hestia chirped.

Artemis glared.

Demeter laughed lightly.

"But you, little Hestia. The way you talk about this captain of yours..."

"What about it?" Hestia said with a huff.

"You've got a man." Demeter's voice dropped into something almost conspiratorial. "Don't you?"

Hestia's face went red.

Before she could deny it, Artemis spoke without thinking.

"They're dating."

Hestia's head whipped towards her, betrayal written across her features. Artemis winced internally. That had slipped out.

Demeter's eyes went wide, then her expression transformed into something delighted and thoroughly inappropriate.

"Dating?" She practically purred the word. "Our little Hestia? One of the three virgin goddesses? Actually dating someone?"

"It's... It's complicated," Hestia stammered, but pushed her chest out. "And since the secret is out, I have nothing to be ashamed of."

"Oh, I'm sure it is." Demeter shifted closer, her smile growing. "Tell me everything. What's he like? Is he handsome? Strong? Gentle?" Her voice dropped lower. "Passionate?"

"Demeter!"

"What? I'm curious!" The harvest goddess laughed, the sound rich and warm. "A man who can capture the heart of Hestia herself must be something special. I must meet him."

Her smile turned distinctly lewd.

Hestia's embarrassment shifted into something more protective. She narrowed her eyes.

"Don't you already have enough men chasing after you? The way you act, I'd think you had a dozen waiting in line."

Demeter giggled, utterly unashamed.

"Oh, Hestia. Men chase, certainly." She examined her nails with theatrical disinterest. "But no one can hold me down for long. I enjoy my freedom far too much."

"How convenient," Hestia grumbled with a pout.

Artemis tuned out their bickering, her thoughts drifting back to the reason she was here in the first place.

When would he return?

Every day that passed was another day her Familia remained in danger. Another day that monster grew stronger, fed on the power it had stolen from her true body.

And now she was sitting in a bathhouse, listening to goddesses gossip about romance, while the one person who might actually be able to help was off in some other place entirely.

She sank deeper into the water, letting the heat wash over her.

Hestia trusted him without reservation.

That boded well, despite the strange means by which he had obtained her weapon.

Artemis wondered if that trust was justified, or if she was wasting time she didn't have.

-{Zephyrion Gremory}-

A day had passed swiftly since we had raided Nurmengard.

The safehouse I had come back to was quiet, the chaos of our retreat having settled into something resembling calm. Strangely enough, the raid had served as a morale boost.

Apparently, the feat was so absurd that half of them hadn't expected to make it out alive.

My display with Dumbledore had done wonders for my reputation. Those who hadn't been able to come were infinitely jealous, while those who had come enjoyed retelling the whole thing as if it were some myth.

I sat at the desk in my borrowed study, spreading the Daily Prophet across the surface.

The headlines were quite dramatic, in my opinion, but then again, when I thought about the raid through the human half of my personality, the whole thing was, frankly, bizarre.

GRINDELWALD ESCAPES: DUMBLEDORE UNABLE TO PREVENT DARK LORD'S RETURN TO FREEDOM

THE DARK LORD'S FORCE OVERWHELMS ELITE AUROR DIVISION

But my favourite was the sidebar article. A smaller piece, tucked beneath the main story, focused on witness testimonies from surviving Aurors.

'THE WHITE-GLOVED DEMON': SURVIVORS DESCRIBE UNSTOPPABLE COMBATANT

I skimmed the text.

I had to show this to Satomi.

"He moved faster than a vampire," one Auror was quoted as saying. "One moment he was across the courtyard, the next he was among us. I have no clue in Merlin's name what magic he was using, but it was mental. Me and Danny were chucking a right few nasty spells on orders from our leading captain. Then the bloke is suddenly next to us, just smashing everyone with some Muggle fighting technique."

Another witness described the moment Sebas had activated his fear aura. "I've faced Death Eaters. I've duelled dark wizards. I've never felt terror like that. My body stopped working. I couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't breathe. It's a kind of mental magic I've never seen. A dangerous adversary, I've already spoken to the heads of the administration about some mental repelling artefacts."

The White-Gloved Demon.

Reginald had stared at me questioningly when the title had been described.

Sebas would probably find the title distasteful. Too dramatic for his sensibilities. But it had already spread through the wizarding world overnight, such was the reach of a newspaper.

The story of a butler in formal attire who had single-handedly held off a whole force of Aurors before Dumbledore himself arrived.

Since then, I had been able to play around with wizarding magic a lot more. And it was safe to say the spells I had gained were extremely powerful, especially for the remarkable power I had.

While it was proving tricky to learn a lot of them, I imagined that within the year I'd be able to manipulate them outside the basic spell format of wizarding magic.

My thoughts came to a halt as footsteps approached.

Speaking of Reginald.

A knock at the door.

"Enter."

Reginald stepped inside, his posture as refined as ever despite the exhaustion I could see in his eyes. The raid had taken its toll on everyone.

"Lord Gremory." He inclined his head. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all." I gestured to the chair across from me. "Sit."

He did, settling into the seat with the practised grace of a man who had spent his life navigating formal settings.

"Any progress on our informant?" I asked.

"Some, my Lord. Only a handful of people knew the timing of the Nurmengard operation. We are narrowing the list quietly." Reginald's jaw tightened. "It will be handled before it can happen again."

"Good. Keep me informed."

"Of course, my Lord."

"I'll be leaving soon," I said. "Tomorrow. I'll be summoned back; you already have my summoning paper, right?"

"Indeed." Reginald nodded. "It's only one of them, but we've got it secured enough."

"Remind me to make more," I said after a moment.

I'd need to get the resources since I had run out.

Reginald nodded slowly.

"I understand, my Lord." He paused, seeming to gather himself. "Before you depart, however, there is something I wished to discuss with you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"There is... an event. A gathering of sorts." He shifted slightly, which was unusual for him. Reginald was not a man who fidgeted. "I would like to extend an invitation for you to attend."

"A gathering." I leaned back.

The request was out of the blue.

"A ball, my Lord," Reginald clarified. "It's the Midsummer Conclave, held annually on neutral grounds in Switzerland."

"You want me to go to a ball?" I questioned, giving him an odd look.

He coughed. "Indeed."

I studied him.

It felt a bit abrupt.

But this was what political games were about, right?

I had heard that even the Old Satan Faction back in my world had been invited to a few neutral parties.

"You're acting like this is a significant request," I said. "I'm guessing there's a reason for this?"

Reginald met my eyes. "Because it is, my Lord. The Midsummer Conclave is not merely a ball. It is the single largest gathering of magical society in Europe. Every major political faction sends representatives. The Sacred Twenty-Eight. The Continental Houses, along with many others."

"And you want me to walk into a room full of people who consider me a terrorist," I pointed out blandly.

"It's slightly more complicated than that, my Lord," Reginald said. "You would be walking into a room full of people who have only heard rumours about you." He leaned forward slightly.

"Yeah? I'm still not seeing the point."

"What happened at Nurmengard has sent shockwaves through the wizarding world. A new faction emerged from nowhere and handed the Ministry its worst defeat in living memory," Reginald explained.

"And attending this ball would accomplish what, exactly?" I asked, already catching on to what he was saying.

It was a political move.

To show I was unharmed after such a thing.

"It would give them a face to attach to the fear. A presence they can evaluate for themselves." Reginald's voice took on a more passionate edge. "Right now, you are a mystery. It would be a good showing politically. Lord Abbott is already excited about the prospect and would be joining us."

I weighed his words.

The political angle made sense.

And truthfully, I was interested in the broader magical world. Nurmengard had given me a taste of what the Ministry could field, but that was just Britain and a handful of international reinforcements.

How strong were the other factions? The Continental Houses? The duelling champions Reginald had mentioned in passing?

"The Ministry will be there, won't they?" I questioned. "Won't they simply attack the moment I arrive? And if so, I won't be standing there and taking it."

"No, my Lord. The Conclave operates under the Accords of Chur. Neutral ground, enforced heavily by all parties involved, with political death for any who break the pact. There will be no violence between attendees, no matter their affiliations."

Reginald's expression turned grim. "Only one person has ever broken that agreement. The Dark Lord Voldemort, many years ago. He is now permanently banned from attendance, and anyone who assists him in breaching the wards faces... severe consequences."

"Can't he just apparate past the wards?"

"He could try." A thin smile crossed Reginald's face. "But the security is provided by Europe's finest. Duelling champions from a dozen nations. Curse-breakers from Gringotts and other banks. Ward specialists who have spent their entire careers perfecting the location's defences. If he appeared, he would be facing the combined might of every major power on the continent."

I drummed my fingers on the desk.

A ball.

Politicians and aristocrats and magical elites, all gathered in one place under a truce that even Voldemort couldn't break. A chance to see the broader landscape of this world's power structure.

Did I want to bother with it?

"Fine," I said. "It sounds like it could be interesting."

-END-

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